Hexagonal Cells

The shape of a cell is governed by physical interactions between the cell and its extracellular matrix substrate adhesions.  By adapting techniques taken from the microchip industry, Institute faculty can create matrix adhesive islands of any size, shape, or position on the scale of individual cells, and cells take on the form of these islands when cultured on these substrates. This image shows hexagonal matrix islands containing single cells, or occasionally two cells, that exhibit hexagonal forms. Importantly, this method was used to demonstrate that the shape of the cell, or degree to which it distorts, governs whether it will grow, differentiate, die, or move in a particular direction. (By: Julia Sero, Ingber lab.)